In the Summertime

Mungo Jerry

About In the Summertime

"In the Summertime" is the debut single by British rock band Mungo Jerry. Written and composed by its lead singer, Ray Dorset, it celebrates the carefree days of summer. In 1970, it reached number one in charts around the world, including seven weeks on the UK Singles Chart, two weeks on one of the Canadian charts, and number three on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the US. It became one of the best-selling singles of all-time, eventually selling 30 million copies.


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Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh
Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh
Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh
Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh
Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh
Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh

In the summertime when the weather is hot
You can stretch right up and touch the sky
When the weather's fine
You got women, you got women on your mind
Have a drink, have a drive
Go out and see what you can find

If her daddy's rich take her out for a meal
If her daddy's poor just do what you feel
Speed along the lane
Do a turn or return the twenty-five
When the sun goes down
You can make it, make it good and really fine

We're not bad people
We're not dirty, we're not mean
We love everybody but we do as we please
When the weather's fine
We go fishin' or go swimmin' in the sea
We're always happy
Life's for livin' yeah, that's our philosophy

Sing along with us
Dee dee dee-dee dee
Dah dah dah-dah dah
Yeah we're hap-happy
Dah dah-dah
Dee-dah-do dee-dah-do dah-do-dah
Dah-do-dah-dah-dah
Dah-dah-dah do-dah-dah

Alright ah

Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh
Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh
Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh
Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh
Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh
Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh

When the winter's here, yeah it's party time
Bring your bottle, wear your bright clothes
It'll soon be summertime
And we'll sing again
We'll go drivin' or maybe we'll settle down
If she's rich, if she's nice
Bring your friends and we'll all go into town

Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh
Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh
Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh
Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh
Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh
Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh

In the summertime when the weather is hot
You can stretch right up and touch the sky
When the weather's fine
You got women, you got women on your mind
Have a drink, have a drive
Go out and see what you can find

If her daddy's rich take her out for a meal
If her daddy's poor just do what you feel
Speed along the lane
Do a turn or return the twenty-five
When the sun goes down
You can make it, make it good and really fine

We're not bad people
We're not dirty, we're not mean
We love everybody but we do as we please
When the weather's fine
We go fishin' or go swimmin' in the sea
We're always happy
Life's for livin' yeah, that's our philosophy

Sing along with us
Dee dee dee-dee dee
Dah dah dah-dah dah
Yeah we're hap-happy
Dah dah-dah
Dee-dah-do dee-dah-do dah-do-dah
Dah-do-dah-dah-dah

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Mungo Jerry

Mungo Jerry is a British rock group whose greatest success was in the early 1970s, though they have continued throughout the years with an ever-changing line-up, always fronted by Ray Dorset. They are remembered above all for their hit "In the Summertime". It remains their most successful and most instantly recognisable song, and their only hit outside of the UK. Their name was inspired by the poem "Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer", from T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. According to Joseph Murrell's The Book of Golden Discs (1978), "Mungomania" was possibly the most startling and unpredicted pop phenomenon to hit Britain since The Beatles. more »

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Written by: RAY DORSET

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


28 facts about this song

Record Breaker
"In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry is one of the best-selling singles in UK chart history, selling over ten million copies worldwide.
Debut Single
The song was Mungo Jerry's debut single, released in 1970.
Summer Anthem
The song is widely considered a quintessential summer anthem, often played on the radio during warmer seasons.
Unique Writing Location
The songwriter Ray Dorset said he wrote it in about ten minutes while on break during his day job as a Lab Technician in 1968.
Number One Spot
"In the Summertime" reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in June 1970, where it remained for seven weeks.
Worldwide Success
The song reached number one in 26 countries around the world.
Independent Record
The song was released on the independent label Dawn Records, which was a subsidiary of Pye Records.
Charity Initiative
A portion of the royalties from the song was donated to the World Wide Fund for Nature.
Numerous Covers
The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Shaggy, who released a version of the song in 1995.
Song Duration
The song has a duration time of 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
The lyric "we're not bad people, we're just dirty"- based lyrics
The song became controversial over the years due to its lyric which is considered unaesthetic for modern audience "If her daddy's rich, take her out for a meal. If her daddy's poor, just do what you feel".
Music Video
The music video for the song features the band performing in an open field, whilst also showing highlights of various summer activities.
Full Band Contribution
In 'In the Summertime,' all members of the band played a variety of unconventional instruments, including a double bass, banjo, kazoo, and piano, alongside the main guitar and drum parts.
Unique Sound
The song is known for its distinctive skiffle sound, which is a blend of jazz, blues, and American folk music, played with a syncopated rhythm.
Extended Version
There is an extended version of the song that lasts seven minutes. Only the original three-and-a-half-minute version is included on the band's debut album.
Release Information
"In the Summertime" is a song by British rock band Mungo Jerry. Released in 1970, it was the group's debut single.
Chart Success
The song was a great chart success, reaching number one in numerous countries including the UK, the United States, Canada, and across Europe.
Song Duration
The original version of the song runs for about 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
Iconic Instrumentation
The song is recognized for its distinctive use of a piano-based shuffle and a memorable whistle intro.
Lyrics Content
The lyrics of "In the Summertime" are known for their light-hearted, carefree essence which perfectly captures the spirit of summer.
Song Author
The song was written by frontman Ray Dorset within 10 minutes, while he was on break at his day job.
Global Sales
Globally, the song sold over 30 million copies, making it one of the highest-selling singles in music history.
Seasonal Popularity
Due to its subject matter, the song experiences a marked increase in popularity and radio play during the summer months.
Cover Versions
Since its release, the song has been covered by numerous artists, including Shaggy, Elton John, and Bob Dylan.
Use in Media
"In the Summertime" has appeared in a variety of films, commercials, and television shows.
Delayed U.S. Release
The song was released in the UK in May 1970 but it was not released in the U.S. until July of the same year.
Band’s Hierarchy
Interestingly, while Mungo Jerry was essentially a band, it was primarily a showcase for its frontman, Ray Dorset.
Timeless Appeal
Despite being over 50 years old, "In the Summertime" continues to be a popular song, particularly during the summer season.

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In the Summertime

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Top Hot 100 Songs 1970

Billboard #3


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